The NBA regular season is back in action with an excellent slate of games this Saturday, with a total of nine matchups on the docket scheduled for today. So, our staff of basketball betting experts dug into the latest odds and identified NBA picks for six of tonight's matchups.
Continue below for our NBA picks, odds, props, and predictions for Saturday, January 17.
NBA Picks, Odds, Props, Predictions: Saturday, January 17
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 5 p.m. | |
  | 7:30 p.m. | |
  | 7:30 p.m. | |
  | 8 p.m. | |
  | 8 p.m. | |
  | 9 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NBA Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Jazz vs. Mavericks
By Bet Labs
This NBA system focuses on regular season situations where visiting underdogs are primed for a rebound after failing to cover the spread in their previous game.
These teams often show stronger effort and tighter execution following a poor performance, particularly when facing opponents coming off strong ATS wins who may enter overconfident or slightly overvalued by the market.
The travel factor adds to the motivation, as underdogs on the road tend to play with urgency and discipline to stay competitive.
By isolating games where perception favors the home team and the spread is wide enough to allow value, this system captures bounce-back opportunities where public sentiment skews the line, rewarding disciplined bettors who back undervalued road 'dogs in resilient spots.
Pick: Jazz +3.5 (-110)
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Celtics vs. Hawks
By Bet Labs
This NBA system identifies value in conference games where favorites are struggling but still favored by the market.
When a team has recently underperformed yet remains favored, it suggests the betting line reflects long term strength rather than short term results.
These situations often create buying opportunities on quality teams that are due for positive regression after a rough stretch.
Facing familiar conference opponents adds familiarity and stability to performance expectations, while moderate spreads and balanced totals keep volatility in check.
This approach capitalizes on the overreaction to recent form, betting on strong teams to rebound once market sentiment has dipped too far against them.
Pick: Celtics -3.5 (-110)
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Suns vs. Knicks
By Bet Labs
This NBA moneyline system assumes that the betting market and casual bettors slightly overvalue home court in tightly lined games, creating quiet value on the visiting team when it is a small underdog.
By requiring that the team we back is on the road and that the game is in the regular season, the system focuses on meaningful contests where both teams are motivated and talent levels are close.
Limiting the spread percentage and the point-spread itself to a narrow band between zero and roughly 6.5 points targets matchups where the road side is clearly competitive but still priced as the less likely winner, largely because the public prefers the perceived safety of a short home favorite.
In these situations the visiting underdog often has comparable talent, fresher legs in certain schedule spots, or matchup advantages that are not fully captured in the line, so consistently siding with that road team aims to exploit these small but repeatable inefficiencies in how the market prices home advantage.
Pick: Suns Moneyline (+140)
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Thunder vs. Heat
By Bet Labs
This NBA totals system is built on the idea that strong traveling teams can drive pace and scoring in matchups where the market leans too heavily toward the under.
By focusing on regular season games outside of division play, the system avoids slower rivalry environments and taps into contests that tend to be more open and less physical.
It targets overs specifically when the betting public and money trends show a clear lean toward the under, creating a contrarian opportunity where expectations are suppressed but conditions for scoring remain strong.
The away team must be early enough in its season to still carry energy and identity, and it must also be coming off a decisive win, a signal that its offense and confidence are functioning at a high level.
When these elements align, strong road teams often set the tone, push pace, and elevate scoring beyond market expectations, making the over more attractive precisely when it is being overlooked.
Pick: Over 233.5 (-110)
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Timberwolves vs. Spurs
By Bet Labs
This NBA system focuses on regular season matchups where struggling road underdogs offer hidden value.
Teams on short losing streaks both straight up and against the spread often become undervalued in the market, as public sentiment turns sharply against them.
These spots tend to produce inflated lines that fail to reflect the small margins separating most teams, especially when the visiting side has already been in the role of the underdog for consecutive games.
Such teams frequently respond with higher energy and focus after a string of poor performances, particularly when traveling, where distractions are limited, and motivation is heightened to end a skid.
This system capitalizes on market overreaction to recent losses, finding edges where perception diverges from reality and resilient road teams quietly bounce back to outperform expectations.
Pick: Timberwolves +6.5 (-110)
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Wizards vs. Nuggets
By Bet Labs
This NBA moneyline system targets opportunities where public momentum heavily favors a team on a winning streak, creating inflated lines and value on the other side.
When a home favorite enters a game after multiple consecutive wins, especially after previously being an underdog, market confidence tends to spike beyond true performance expectations.
This setup creates an ideal fade spot for disciplined bettors, as regression and complacency often set in for teams riding short-term success.
Visiting opponents in these scenarios are typically undervalued due to recent losses or lower perceived quality but face opponents due for a letdown.
By backing road teams in these overpriced matchups, the system captures situations where market overreaction to hot streaks creates favorable odds and consistent long-term profit potential.
Pick: Wizards Moneyline (+450)
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